Release latch for buckles



Dec. 13, 1949 E. c. ELSNER 2,490,862

RELEASE LATCH FOR BUCKLES Filed July 10, 1948 nventor Gttomeg Patented Dec. 13, 1949 2,490,862 RELEASE LATCH FOR BUCKLES Edwin C. Elsner, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor to C. J. W. Corporation, North Hollywood, Calif., a corporation of California Application July 10, 1948,. Serial No. 38,003

This invention relates to strap bucklesand deals more particularly with release latch means for the same. This application is a continuationin-part of my pending applicationentitled Quick release automatic strap buckle, Ser. N o. :767,875, and led August 11, 1947.

An object of -the present invention is toprovide a buckle for connecting the ends of a strap or the ends of two straps fastened to a common member that embodies cam-wedge means for gripping one strap end and includes improved release means for said cam-wedge means, facilitating slackening 01T on said strap end.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, oonvenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical oi" manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by Way of illustration or example only.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the present buckle in a preferred application.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional viewv thereof in which the cam-wedge means is released, the same being the normal applied condition of the buckle.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the buckle showing the cam-wedge means latched or locked to facilitate slackening off on the strap end connected thereto.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the buckle.

Fig. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the latch means in latched position.

In the mentioned pending application, the buckle is disclosed as connecting the ends of a strap. In Fig. 1 of the present application, the buckle, while adapted to be used as in the earlier application, may also be employed for tying down an article such as a crate I to a iioor or deck II. In this latter case, the buckle I2 is connected to a strap I3 that is trained over the article I0 and said strap by means of a hook I4 is engaged with a ring or eye I fixed to said floor.

A connector strap I6 having a hook I'I at one end.

for separable connection to the buckle and a hook I8 at the other for hooking engagement with a second ring or eye I9, completes the article holding association of elements. connector strap I6, hook I4 can be directly'engaged with the buckle to provide an article-encompassing arrangement.

The buckle I2 that is illustrated comprises, generally, a frame 20; a roller 2| mounted trans- By omitting the 2 versely .of the frame at an intermediate part thereof for a loop 22 of the strap I 3 trained there- 4 around to provide said strap with a bight 23 that connects to ring or eye I5, and a free end 24; cam-wedge means 25 for gripping the strap I2 to maintain the tension thereof, the latter means embodying a curved extension 26 engaged with said strap to urge the cam-wedge means into strap-gripping position; and latch means 2'I for,

inter-engaging the cam-wedge means and frame 20 for latching said means in a position that permits slackening off of strap I3 in the buckle.

The frame 20 comprises essentially, a pair of sides 28 that are connected at one end by a rodv 29 that connects either with hook II or hook I4,

and is also connected by a pivot rod 30 for roller 2I, a pivot rod 3| for the means 25, a plate 32' that cooperates with the latter means to grip strap I3, and a rod 33 between which and said plate the bight extends.

The cam-wedge means 25 comprises, in addition to curved extension 26, a curved strapgripping face 34 that is on the opposite side of the pivot rod 3| from said extension. Rather than conventional knurling, said face 34 is quite deeply indented to provide a plurality of rib-defined seats or cavities that have keying or interlocking engagement with the strap, the latter being of the woven type and having protuberances that fall into said seats or cavities.

In use, take-up on strap I3 is effected by a pull on the free end 24, the same freely sliding between the cam-wedge face 34 and plate 32. Release of said pull permits the force transmitted to extension 26, by said strap end 24, between roller 2| and plate 34 to so rock means 25 that the face 34 thereof effectively grips the strap against any pull of bight 23. By pushing down on extension 26, the cam-wedge means 25 is rocked, as in Fig. 3, to release said grip and the. pull on bight 23 is effective to slacken the strap. However, upon release of the extension, thev pull'. on the strap will again lift the same to caused normal use of the buckle. Said means comprises a bolt 35 slidably fitted in an end bore 36 formedv in cam-wedge member 42. Said bolt is provided with a tapered end 31 that has selective engagement in a hole 38 in one side 28 and in a notch 39 immediately thereadjacent. A spring 40 behind the bolt urges its tapered end toward said hole and notch.

A transverse extension handle 4I is provided on the bolt 35 intermediate its ends and said member d2, shoulders 43 and 44, the rst to receive the thrust of said handle when the same is substantially upright and; the other tox receivey the thrust thereof' when rocked to ay substantially horizontal position. Shoulder 43 retains bolt 35 retracted and out of engagement with hole 38 or notch 39. Shoulder 44 allows for projection of said bolt by the spring but retains=the same' carp'-j tive to obviate loss thereof. y

When bolt is held retracted, the cam-Wedge. means 25 functions in the mannen above-stated and depression of extension 26 will effect release of the strap. Release of said extenson'wil'i" automatically restore means 25 to strap-gripping condition. With the strap thus gripped, the handle 4lr isv iiipped olf shoulder 43 and spring MT will' progr ect bolt 35 into notch 39' so that theA same extends at 1east in part, above the upper edgey of side plate 28'. A` safety lock is` thus ei'ectedV that prevents inadvertent release ofthe 3 strap should extension 26 be struck. or inad vertently pushed. Release can be effected only by Withdrawal of bolt 35. The same may be. manually accomplished or if desired., the taper of bolt end 3'! and that ofnotch 3'9 may be soy arranged. and proportioned that a strong push on extension 2G Wil-l eiect a cam-wedging. withdravval of the bolt, the latter then. entering hole 38' to hold the extensiondepressed and the` strap released for free slacking ol of said strap.L

The tapered bolt end 3.1 when in notch 39 also comprises safety' meansA that obviates acciden'tal depression of extension 26 it being.v necessaryv to overcome thef'orce of spring @D before depression ofthe extension can be effected.

The strap,.hook andbuckle arrangement shown in' Fig. l may, of course be varied, the' present application being primarily concerned' with' the' normal release latch for the cam-wedge means.-

While I have illustrated' and described what l'.V now regard as. the preferred embodiment of. my invention, the' construction is,l of course, subject to modi'cation Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I', therefore. do not Wish to restrict myself to' the particolar. form of construction illustrated and' described, but desire' to' avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the' appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim and' desire to secure byy Letters' PatentV is:

1:. A strap buckle comprising a frame' having sides', cam-wedge means pivotally carried between said' sides for gripping a strap,A said cam-wedge means hearing an extension normally' engaged with' the strap and held thereby ingripping' posi"- tion, said extension being. adapted to be manually depressed' to move the cam-wedge means' to non'- gripping position, and latch means' carried. by the cam-wedge' means for'rele'asably locking said cam-wedge' means to one of the frame sides in non-gripping; position, said latchmeans comprising a spring-urged bolt directed toward said frame side,. a handle on said boltand a shoulder on` the cam-wedge means for engaging and holding'said' bolt retracted, said handle and bolt` being' manually' rotatable to disengage the' former from theA shoulder whereby' the latter' engages a hole and a notch in one of said sides for selective alignment with said bore, a strap-engagingextension. onx said. member' for rocking the same into straip-gripping position, a spring-urged bolt in said bore and having an end directed toward said hole and notch, said bolt end residing in the notch when the strap-gripping member is positioned toL grip a strap, and said bolt end, upon manual. depression of said extension to move the strap-gripping. member to non-gripping position, aiu-tomatical129* entering said hole to hold the latter member in said non-gripping position.

In a? strap* buckle, a frame having sides, a strap-gripping member pivoted between the sides, there being an endbore in said member and a hole and a notch inV one of said sides ier selective alignment with said bore a strap-engaging extension on said memberV for rocking the same. into strap-gripping position, a spring-urged bolti'n bore and having an end' directedy toward' said'hole and notch, said bol-t end resid-ing in the notch when the strap-gripping member is positioned to gri-'p a strap, said' bolt end, upon manual depression. of said extension to move the Strap-gripping member to non-gripping: posi-tion,r

automatically entering saidA hole to hold the latter member in said non-grippingv position, anda shoulder on the strap-gripping member adapted. to hold said bolt retractedV andV from entering said liol`e' and notch.

4. In a strap buckle, a frame having sides,4 a strapg'ripping member pivotedl between the sides, there being. an' end bore in said member and a' hole and a notchv in one of' said. sides for selective alignment with said bore, a strap-engaging extension on said' member for rocking the same into Strap-gripping position, aspiring-urged boltl insaid bore and having an' end' directed to- Ward said; hole and notch, said bolt end residingn inthe' notch' when the strap-gripping member is positioned to grip' a' strap, said bolt end, upon manual depression oisad extension to move the strap-grippingr member' to' non-gripping position, automatically entering said hole' to h`ol`d the latter member'in` said non-gripping position, anda shoulder' on' the strap-gripping adapted. to hold said' bolt retracted and' from entering.' said hole' andi notch; a transverse' extension on' said bolt and comprising a manipuiatin'g handle therefor being provided for engaging saidshoulder;

5. Ina strap buckle, a frame Side, pivoted' strap-gripping member, and a proiectible element carried by' the latter member adapted; when projected, to engage said frame side,` to loci; the strap-grippingl member against' movement to iree the strap, said' frame side having av hole t'zier'ei'n ands'ai'delement, after retraction and subseduem,y movement of the strap-gripping member' to ei'ect release of the strap, being automatically' projectible into said hole to hold said member in strap-releasingv position,

EDl/VIN- C; REFERENCES CITED The following references are: of record in the- Number 

